gazebo

[BrokenBiker]

thinking about buying this gazebo (as i have been given love to shop vouchers and i dont shop in any of that places that are listed on them)

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2952091.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

idea is to build it outside my patio doors, tight up to the house and tight up to my boundary fence, screw it into the patio to anchor it down to keep it there in the wind.

i only want it to keep the majority of the rain off so i can work in the garden if i need to get something done and its raining...

the dimensions fit perfectly, 2.7M around teh legs at the base and i have 2.8x3.0M and its just high enough to clear my patio light above the doors so i would have lighting inside too...

just wondering if anyone can see a problem with this? i know there are no sides to it but it will be up against a 6 foot fence one side, the house on another side and my neighbours house wall will be 200mm from the other edge so the only real opening would be towards the garden that would have to stay open for the dog to get through anyway...

i will have to clear an immense amount of crap out of the way to get space to put it up, but once its up i can crack on with the jobs i have stacking up which is what made me thing about it...i even have an exterior socket in the corner that the gazebo would go in too...

 

[Robotstar5]

The way the legs taper, it won't be against the fence/wall etc., I reckon you will get wet trying to work in the rain, especially if (when) it's windy

 

[BrokenBiker]

The way the legs taper, it won't be against the fence/wall etc., I reckon you will get wet trying to work in the rain, especially if (when) it's windy

i can sort the tapered legs while being assembled, i did notice them but form experience with cheap gazebo's they will bend quite easilly and with them being screwed down they wont budge afterwards either...

also had an afterthought that i could rig a cheap tarpaulin up to the 'open edge' to roll up and down as needed...

i know its not a brilliant idea, but as ive got the vouchers and arent likely to think of anything else to buy with them i thought id ask...

if it were cash i was spending i wouldnt be entertaining it but its not really going to cost me anything this way but at the same time i dont want to waste time on it if its going to be crap

 

[Robotstar5]

Fixing a cheap tarp to the open sides should work, I fitted one to the open side of the "barn" at the stables and it's finally starting to wear out after nearly 5 years of very strong winds.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Fixing a cheap tarp to the open sides should work, I fitted one to the open side of the "barn" at the stables and it's finally starting to wear out after nearly 5 years of very strong winds.

i have a tarp at the bottom of the garden covering the side of the shed, but thats far too far gone now to be repaired without spending more than the cost of a shed so could use that...cant remember the size of it but is a big 'un.

need to think of a way to attach it, not sure if rolling it up and tying it on would be best, or just have a way of hooking it on when needed, and then keeping it in the corner when not needed

 

[slim_boy_fat]

As long as it's vertical rain you'll be OK, but it won't take much wind to blow rain under the roof and still wet you.

 

[Robotstar5]

The one I use to "extend" my garage when the doors are open hooks onto a row of screw-in cuphooks above the doorframe.

Another option would be to fix the top edge then run cord through the eyelets down the side and secure at the bottom eyelet, pull the cord from the top and it lifts like a Venetian blind.

 

[BrokenBiker]

well, i may as well take a gamble, will pop out and get it while its in stock, build it on the next dry day (tomorrow hopefully) and then see how it goes

 

[Wallace]

Hard to tell from the photos which one you would be buying, folding concertina or tubular frame. I have a folding one I used through the summer to keep the sun off while fibre-glassing, it has a canvas/cotton cover that isn't waterproof and the folding joints fall apart and bend easily as the wind blows it about.

 

[squazy84]

they dont work in Ireland anyway, but its really bad over here weather wise!

 

[TechnicAl]

Those cheap ones are only just strong enough to hold themselves up.

Those triangular sails fastened with a spring attachment on 3 sides seem to do well in the wind

 

[CKJDJK]

We use one, put up till it dies then buy another. Some have really feeble poles that easily bend. Tape all the joints to stop the poles pulling apart in the wind when the roof stretches. Canvas types last better than plastic which degrades in the sun. Anchor down really well and secure all top corners with guy lines or fix to building. Record so far is about three or four years before the roof rotted. We acquired a set of side panels which we only fit when needed. Surprising how much shelter you can get.

 

[pedrobedro]

We got a poly cotton folding gazebo from Tesco for £32 a couple of years ago and as long as you go round and tighten the screws up occasionally and use the guys it is fine.

 

[Barlidge]

Make sure its a strong one - I did a similar thing last year, screwed and fixed all the legs in place etc, worked well in the wind but less than an inch of snow and the framework all collapsed. That was a tubular frame one.

 

[BrokenBiker]

this is a tubular frame one, but saying that it seems a bit more robust than i assumed it would be...ive got no money invested in it so i might get it all together, screw the legs into the floor and then get a mig tack on each of the pole joints before taping them up, then when it either needs to come down or i move i can just hit then with the grinder quickly and break it down again...

if its dry tomorrow i have to clear a bit of space and do a few tip runs to get rid of the 'rubbish' as the mrs puts it (in all truth it is all mostly crap anyway, form the may be usefull one day pile) and then knock this thing up and secure it...might even secure it to the wall if i can

 

[Kayos]

Not quite the same but it was well anchored, I tried strengthening after this but it was never very good so it went binwards

 

[Jim Davey]

I got a Eurmax 3x3 folding gazebo and it's excellent. I use it most days at work home or on camping trips and it's holding up well a after 2 years. They have shot up in price tho. I paid £135 + £40 for 4 sides and now the same model is around £275, I searched for ages to find a decent one though as they all look the same online but most are absolute garbage. Look out at your next market day and see what the traders are using, not mega money ones but the half decent gazebos with good frames.

 

[Jim Davey]

Just looked and they've come back down again. Can't reccomend highly enough.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/271845002901

 

[BrokenBiker]

I mocked mine up today and it seems quite sturdy for what it is, bent the legs straight and figured out where I'm going to secure it. Going to make a few brackets out of 4mm plate to screw over the legs and into the wall of the house, screw legs into the patio and the far leg lines up well with the fence post so I may attach it there as its a solid post that has been concreted In